Rawiller in treble heaven on Diamond

Date: November 26 2012

Michael Lynch

MAGIC Millions Clockwise Classic winner I'm Too Sexy was not the only history maker at Ballarat on Sunday.

Jockey Brad Rawiller also ensured his name was etched in the record books when he won on long-shot King Diamond ($41) in the $200,000 Ballarat Cup (2200 metres). He became the first rider to win the race three times in a row following his wins on Domesky last year and My Bentley in 2010.

The success capped off a marvellous weekend for Rawiller, as it brought up a treble at Ballarat to go along with the hat-trick he had scored at Moonee Valley 24 hours earlier.

King Diamond, who has moved to the seaside stable of Warrnambool-based Jarrod McLean, edged out South Australian raider Pelicano by the minimum margin. Terry O'Sullivan's luckless mare Exceptionally was third. The heavily backed $2.70 favourite Sertorius, who was bidding for six wins on the trot, found this one bridge too far.

King Diamond, a six-year-old son of Danewin, had shaped as a really promising stayer earlier in his career when he had been in the stables of two of the state's leading handlers, Mark Kavanagh and Peter Moody.

But he had lost form and suffered some niggling injuries. McLean and the horse's owner, Rob Slade, said Moody had suggested two months ago that he be moved to a beach trainer to see if a change in routine and environment could rekindle his interest.

McLean saddled him up for the first time at Flemington over the carnival in an 1800-metre race where he needed the run, and, second up for his new handler on Sunday he showed plenty to just get up on the line to defeat Tony McEvoy's galloper in a bobbing finish.

''It's another advertisement for us down at Warrnambool on the beach. He's come from two very good trainers in Mark Kavanagh and Peter Moody and just lost his way a bit. I got him mid-prep after the JRA Cup [in late September] and we were able to do a few things different, back right off, get him feeling a lot better.

''Today's my turn in the spotlight, but everyone in Warrnambool, Aaron Purcell, Matthew Williams, we can all train horses, so it's a great advertisement for Warrnambool.

''We just got him sound, got his feet good. This horse hasn't needed a vet. These old horses, they can gallop, you just have to try and reinvent them. I thought there would be worse horses winning a Ballarat Cup than him. I thought he would go well but I really didn't expect to come here and win this today.''

Rawiller was delighted with his treble. ''Three cups in a row is pretty special. I couldn't not give this horse a chance. You knew that this run would be where he starts to shine, but on form against a couple of these we thought we needed a good ride and everything panned out well,'' Rawiller said.

McEvoy was philosophical about Pelicano's narrow loss.

''I think probably the barrier's cost us the race. He was three wide, he had cover but he had to do that extra work third up,'' McEvoy said.

''He dashed to the front, probably got there a touch soon but that's how the track's been racing. I thought the horse showed tremendous courage and if you swap the barriers I think it's a different result.

''He's a gelding and that was only his third run back today. He's got lots to offer us and I am not going to panic with him.

''You look at that field today and the depth of it, my horse has made tremendous progress.''

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